Supreme court asks government why it wants to remove Lalli

The Supreme Court Monday asked the central government to file a statement of facts on why it wants to remove public broadcaster Prasar Bharati’s CEO B.S. Lalli, who is currently under suspension.The court’s directions came in the wake of the central government’s reference seeking Lalli’s removal.

The Supreme court bench of Chief Justice S.H. Kapadia, Justice K.S. Radhakrishnan and Justice Swatanter Kumar gave the government four weeks to file its response stating the reasons to remove Lalli, an Indian Administrative Service (IAS).

The details to be furnished by the central government would include the instances of irregularities committed by him and evidence to support the allegations.

The court gave Lalli three weeks to respond after the government files its statement.

The apex court direction came in the wake of the central government’s reference to the court, seeking its inquiry and opinion for Lalli’s removal.

Additional Solicitor General Mohan Jain appeared for the government.

Senior counsel K.K. Venugopal, who appeared for Lalli, told the court that his client was retiring this year and wanted to clear his name of any charges before he demits office.

Lalli, who is facing corruption charges, was placed under suspension Dec 21, 2010. Lalli is an IAS officer of the 1971 batch belonging to Uttar Pradesh cadre.

The V.K. Shunglu Committee, appointed by the government to probe allegations of corruption surrounding the Commonwealth Games in October 2010, noted that the Prasar Bharati had sanctioned highly inflated bills in connection with the broadcast of the event.